U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA), a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a self-declared “strong supporter of the U.S.-Israel relationship,” on Wednesday sent a stern rebuke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the text of which has been dutifully copied and pasted by our friends at JTA, the Forward and the Times of Israel.

One can just imagine the senator dictating the text below while wagging a bony finger at an imaginary Netanyahu:

“I write to you as one of Israel’s staunchest supporters in Congress to express my deep disappointment over your remarks that call into question our country’s support for Israel and commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Your remarks are utterly contrary to the extraordinary United States-Israel alliance, evidenced by President Obama’s record and the record of Congress.”

It’s the stuff of early education: “my deep disappointment” and “contrary.” The deep sense of betrayal oozing from every well chosen word makes the reader think Netanyahu was declaring, as Knesset opposition leader Shaul Mofaz accused him, that Israel had two enemies: Iran and the U.S.

The redline policy Netanyahu called for makes a lot of sense. The PM was saying to his major ally on the planet: You want to try diplomacy and sanctions – more power to you, I wish you much success. But we must, as friends and allies, agree on the point at which we will put aside those efforts and act together to stop Iran’s nuke plan through a direct military intervention.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton didn’t like it, saying last Sunday that the U.Sm is “not setting deadlines” for Iran, saying the negotiations are “by far the best approach” to preventing the Iranians from developing nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu is not seeing that the sanctions are slowing Iran’s nuclear advances “because it doesn’t see a clear red line from the international community.” We at the Jewish Press have published several articles showing how Iran has been circumventing the sanctions – both openly and clandestinely, in some cases with U.S. tacit approval.

For that, for doubting that the Administration’s approach is working, Bibi got the bony wagging finger from nursery school teacher Boxer.

Next came the heartfelt details of just how much Obama loves us:

“As the author of the United States-Israel Enhanced Security Cooperation Act, I know that President Obama’s support for Israel is unshakable. I cannot tell you how proud I was to stand next to the President as he signed this important legislation into law in July, further enshrining the strong security ties and friendship between our two nations.”

I’m not sure Barbara Boxer should be our model for loyalty. I’m a NY Democrat, and we have long memories. Back in 2008, Boxer, a “super delegate,” pledged that she would give her vote to whomever won California. Hillary won. Boxer withheld her vote.

And if we’re delving into memory lane: in 2007, Boxer voted No on designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as terrorists.

But do I wag a bony finger at her in rebuke? Well, this morning I do.

Here’s the money paragraph in the senator’s letter:

“…I am stunned by the remarks that you made this week regarding U.S. support for Israel. Are you suggesting that the United States is not Israel’s closest ally and does not stand by Israel? Are you saying that Israel, under President Obama, has not received more in annual security assistance from the United States than at any time in its history, including for the Iron Dome Missile Defense System?”

Here’s what Netanyahu said:

“The world tells Israel, ‘Wait, there’s still time.’ And I say, ‘Wait for what? Wait until when?.’ … Those in the international community who refuse to put red lines before Iran don’t have a moral right to place a red light before Israel.”

I understand why Senator Boxer is incensed. She really believes she and the Administration are Israel’s benevolent masters, always defending Israel even at the cost of alienating two billion Muslims. In that context, the notion that the vassal state Israel would dare to make demands about deadlines and lines in the sand and redlines is maddening to her.

This is not a debate over Israel’s security – I trust that should the time come, the IAF would perform a whole lot better than its U.S. counterparts. Of the two forces, it’s the IAF that took out one Iraqi and one Syrian nuclear plant.

The last time the U.S. scored a decisive success, in killing Osama Bin Laden, they flew in on two Blackhawks and flew out cramped inside one, because one of the choppers crashed on landing.

The U.S. airforce is very good at one thing: carpet bombing. If you need to fill up the sky with flying death – no one can do it better than the U.S. Airforce.

If the plan is to do surgical strikes on the nuclear plants, the IAF will carry out the mission successfully. If the plan is to obliterate those sites from the face of the Earth – for that you must have the U.S. Airforce.

But the debate here is not, as I said, over security, but over submission. As Boxer concluded:

“I urge you to step back and clarify your remarks so that the world sees that there is no daylight between the United States and Israel. As you personally stated during an appearance with President Obama in March, ‘We are you, and you are us. We’re together. So if there’s one thing that stands out clearly in the Middle East today, it’s that Israel and America stand together.’”

Frankly, in light of the Boxer letter and Hillary’s Sunday speech – Bibi and the rest of us would be damned fools to believe it.

About the Author:Yori Yanover has been a working journalist since age 17, before he enlisted and worked for Ba'Machane Nachal. Since then he has worked for Israel Shelanu, the US supplement of Yedioth, JCN18.com, USAJewish.com, Lubavitch News Service, Arutz 7 (as DJ on the high seas), and the Grand Street News. He has published Dancing and Crying, a colorful and intimate portrait of the last two years in the life of the late Lubavitch Rebbe, (in Hebrew), and
two fun books in English: The Cabalist's Daughter: A Novel of Practical Messianic Redemption, and How Would God REALLY Vote.

The author's opinion does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Jewish Press.

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14 Responses to “Barbara Boxer Bashing Bibi on Obama”

Just more proof that the kapos of the politburo will go to any lengths to protect their massa. And as for Boxer's alleged claims of supporting Israel and Jews, let's remember how forcefully she refused to speak out against the attempts by cities in her home State to make Judaism illegal in 2010!

Like many other Politicians so-called Israel supporters.. they only show their support when it's beneficial to them personally. As Israel continues to get backed up into a corner, the real question is, will they show their support when Israel has no other choice then to defend it's sovereignty. From the actions I have just witnessed this week, regarding Egypt and Libya.. I have my doubts.

with that I am also very much afraid that they wont stand by Israel, and any treaty Obama signs he will renege on. I feel very sorry for Israel and its people being so alone, except for Canada who has severed diplomatic relationships with Iran.

he idea that Sen. Boxer does not support Israel is one of the most slanderous lies that I have seen in this forum. She is not just one of the hundreds of people in Washington who votes the right way, she is a LEADER of the pro-Israel forces. Just to show one recent example, consider this:

Answer my comment chuckie rather then obfuscate in your hallal kool aid slurping support of all things demoslamist!

I STATED CLEARLY that boxer REFUSED to speak out against the attempts to make Judaism illegal in 2010 in SF and San Bernardino. Why do you dodge that? Answer the comment chuckie. Be honest for once. Answer the comment instead of your standard shuck and jive. Are you not embarassed (obviously not) that you are prepared to spin on a dive to promote anything this administration puts out? But then, I am sure you saw no problem with chairman barack tweeting on 9/11 campaign messaages and 30 minutes BEFORE the memorial for the four he murdered in Benghazi he tweeted for donations. I await chuckie!

Really…I guess to you the requirements of a circumcisions are not part of Judaism. Obvipous who and what you are chuckie.. a resident apologist for the "g-d in his own mind" and his cadre of kapos. I bet you now also promote the canard of the "Israeli and 100 Jew financiers" of the truth of islam that cnn and nbc have been promoting

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